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College football targeting rule: "Flag football" or smart protection? SEC players weigh in

Aaron Murray and Quinton Dial.png

Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, shown here about to take a hit to the head from Alabama's Quinton Dial, said the game is not meant to try to kill someone. He supports the new targeting rule but believes officials will have a tough time calling it.

HOOVER, Alabama -- Florida defensive lineman Dominique Easley doesn't worry about concussions. To Easley and many other SEC football players, that's simply a risk associated with playing such a violent game.

So when Easley discusses a rule in which a player can be immediately ejected for targeting a defenseless player above the shoulders, one thought comes to mind.

"They're basically making us play flag football," Easley said. "It's hard. You can't really control where you want to hit. But it's part of the game. Rules come, you have to follow them."

In an informal survey by AL.com of 20 SEC players, 12 of them support the targeting rule and eight don't like it. There were 10 offensive and 10 defensive players interviewed, although the responses didn't always fall down that divide.

"They're just trying to protect the players," Auburn defensive end Dee Ford said. "I guess they seem to feel like if you have control and that guy doesn't, he doesn't see you and can't really protect himself, don't hit him high. I believe that's a no-brainer with everything that's been happening (with concussions).

"The biggest issue that people start talking about once they get to the NFL is to be healthy when they're done. They're just trying to contribute to that. You've got to respect that."

Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, who received the brunt of one of the most high-profile hits to the head last year, supports the rule change. Murray took a hit to the head from Alabama defensive lineman Quinton Dial after throwing an interception.

"It's nerve-wracking, every time you throw an interception your head has to be on a swivel," Murray said. "It's every defender's job to go after you. They don't care if you're 20 yards, 30 yards, 50 yards away from the ball. Knock the quarterback out. It's stressful.

"And I don't think that's what the game is meant for. You're not trying to kill someone. You're trying to block someone and be able to make a lane for your guy to run. You're not trying to take someone's head off, especially if they're not even near the play."

"I'm 6-6, and half the guys I'm going against are 6-3, 6-foot," Clowney said. "It's going to be hard for me to get low, not to hit them above the shoulders."

Kentucky running back Raymond Sanders, who supports the rule, can relate to Clowney's concern for defensive players.

"I'm a short guy, but some guys are 6-3, 6-4 and maybe accidentally hit me at my head," Sanders said. "It's going to be tough. It's just making the game safer, so you have to look at it that way."

Missouri linebacker Andrew Wilson said the speed of the game will make it difficult for defensive players to think about whether they are targeting a player.

"You're definitely going to be more cognizant about late hits," Wilson said. "You definitely don't want to do that. But as far as bang-bang plays, it's really tough to think about that and not make a mistake."

On the other hand, Texas A&M defensive back Toney Hurd Jr. described the rule as "very, very important" in order to keep players from getting hurt.

Ole Miss linebacker Mike Marry said the change is a good rule. "I guess it's protecting us as players and helping our bodies," he said. "I don't find anything wrong with it."

Missouri quarterback James Franklin, who suffered a concussion last year and favors the rule, envisions frustration for defensive players.

"Some defensive guys have talked about with all this happening it's two-hand touch now," Franklin said. "I like the rule for what they're trying to accomplish. But it's tough for the defense and they have to be more cautious and maybe miss a potential tackle because they're trying to be careful and not break a rule."

LSU wide receiver Jarvis Landry said the rule is about players safety, not only while he's playing but after his career is done. "It's a rule that protects me so I'm not really mad about it," he said.

'Leaving my body out there if I have to'

The question seemed to catch Landry off guard: Given everything the public is learning about the potential longterm risks from concussions, does he ever worry about his longterm health? Landry paused and thought for a moment.

"Honest answer, I don't," Landry said. "Honest answer, I take the field with the intent of just leaving my body out there if I have to, for my teammates and for my program."

Missouri quarterback James Franklin missed time last year with a concussion and said he didn't try to push his return, knowing he had to be careful with his head.

That's the prevailing opinion from many SEC players interviewed. If a player suffers a concussion, "that's part of the game," Easley said. "You sign up to play the game so you have to be willing to take the consequences. There are consequences to every action that you take."

Missouri wide receiver L'Damian Washington, who thinks the ejection rule is great for the good of football but isn't "super happy" at the moment, acknowledged thinking about his longterm health.

"Honestly, yeah, in a way," Washington said. "But I chose to play this game for a reason. I knew what came with it. It's one of those things you have to sacrifice playing this game."

Sanders, the Kentucky running back, said players do discuss concussions among themselves. "It's something you talk about because it's something serious with all the (concussion) occurrences and also further on in life," he said.

Murray, Georgia's star quarterback, joked that by the time he's 50 years old, "I'll probably be in a wheelchair or something." But it's the sport players choose to play, knowing the repercussions from concussions, broken bones or torn ligaments, he said.

"That's just the risk you take for playing the game you love," Murray said. "That's why my mom never wanted me to play. But after a lot of begging, she finally let me do it."